News

OSB (Online Start Box) is at https://my.ava.org/index.php

Starting on January 1st, 2024, the fee on the OSB increased to $4.00.  If you join a walk and pay the club directly there is a discount fee of only $3.00.

November 2024 "Checkpoint" Article

PUBLICITY UPDATE

Congratulations to Ellen Calkins, Secretary of the East Tennessee Wanderers, who won the Starting Point Photo Contest, for the front cover and to Kathy Nash of the East Tennessee Wanderers for the back cover.

The top two photos on the right were the ones selected for the 2025 Starting Point!

CLUB CHALLENGES 

To further embrace our mission of Fun, Fitness, Friendship (and Food), the club launched three special challenge programs, plus keeping a club favorite:

1. East Lakeshore Trail Challenge (30+ Miles)

2. Food Truck Challenge (10 Snacks)

3. Live Music Challenge (10 Concerts)

4. I Did A Walk Challenge (1,049 Minutes in February & March)

There is no fee to participate in the challenges, but you need to be a member of the East Tennessee Wanderers.  Please check out our Membership Information page. 

The challenges are designed so members will pursue their walking goals with the support and encouragement of others with similar interests on a timeline that fits their schedules.  Members need to email the Club President the challenges they would like to pursue for additional information. 

There is even a rating system that can be very beneficial when partaking in the Food Truck Challenge.  For the club's "I Did A Walk" Challenge members walked at least 1,049 minutes from February 1st to March 31st.

The "I Did A Walk" challenge started years ago by the Boy Scouts in Alaska as a fundraiser related to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  The dogs run over 900 miles, and Alaska was the 49th state, so the challenge was made to walk 1,049 minutes.  You paid $10 to the Boy Scouts to compete, and if you completed the challenge you received a pin. 

The East Tennessee Wanderers participated for several years, as well as other AVA clubs.  Unfortunately, the Boy Scouts stopped.  Other groups tried to run it, but there were problems with their data collection and decided not to do it.  So in 2017, our club continued the challenge internally, and recognized members who participated.   

When members complete their club challenges, their names will be added to the Wall of Fame.  Plus, they will receive recognition from the club.